NEWS
EVENTS
Gym Class Heroes Live @ KOKO 30th January
RnB/Hip Hop | Monday 6th February 2012 | Osh
As this show was originally scheduled to take place in November last year but it was
cancelled, due to Travie being hospitalised, you sensed that there was a greater feeling
of unfinished business prior to the show. This was confirmed by the fact that there was
no introduction, the band and then finally, Travie, took to the stage and launched straight
into ‘Cookie Jar’ with all the energy of a nuclear reactor. Pay back has indeed started in
fine style. Then ‘Martyrial Girls’ certainly kept the fans that prefer their songs with rock
(queue screaming guitars) influences happy and saw Travie crowd surf in true rock star
style. ‘Peace Sign/Index Down’ was one for the hardcore GCH fans and the high energy level
was maintained with ‘Cupid’s Chokehold’, with the nearly 2,000 (mainly female) crowd
singing line for line
On a night with sub zero temperatures, the heat was fever pitch inside the venue so by now
Travie had to remove his waist length, black leather jacket. His 6ft 5 frame was now only
dressed in a black T-Shirt, jeans and trainers. After he treated the crowd to some pelvic
thrusting, in the guise of channelling his ‘Chi’, he asked the crowd if they happened to
stumble across a billion dollars, would they be selfish or selfless. The crowd sang the chorus
at the top of their lungs, with low accompaniment from the band at the beginning and end
of the performance of ‘Billionaire’. Clearly one of the highlights of the night and Travie got
his answer, they would be selfish. ‘Solo Discotheque’ kept the crowd in a frenzy, especially
with Travie doing a Michael Jackson (kick, crotch grab and point) dance move.
The band then stormed into the song ‘Fighter’ featuring Ryan Tedder on their latest
album ‘Paper cut Chronicles 2’. The song already sounds like yet another national hit, when
released. Then came the mammoth ‘Stereo Hearts’, which again had the crowd belting out
the lyrics and finally their latest single ‘Get your Ass Back Home’ featuring the UK’s Neon
Hitch, which is released on the 12 February. 3 million views already on You Tube indicates
that GCH will be soaring up the charts again with that one.
The band then left the stage but returned for an encore, with the crowd’s chants of their
name ringing in their ears. Travie then told the crowd that this date in London was the last
and the best date of their 2 week tour. He acknowledged the fact that the show last year
was cancelled because he was ill but this was one of the best days of his life. The fact that
they play instruments really lends itself to live performances and allows them to make
changes to the recorded versions of their songs. While the band provides a dynamic and
innovative musical back drop, the real star of the show is Travie who interacts expertly with
the crowd, keeping them fully engaged throughout.
‘On My Own’ was the encore, which I found to be a little of a letdown in comparison to
what had preceded it, as Travie (for all his talents) is not exactly gifted as a singer and this
obviously is not one of their most famous songs. This only took the shine off things a little
but still a very bright shine overall regardless and payback was complete.
cancelled, due to Travie being hospitalised, you sensed that there was a greater feeling
of unfinished business prior to the show. This was confirmed by the fact that there was
no introduction, the band and then finally, Travie, took to the stage and launched straight
into ‘Cookie Jar’ with all the energy of a nuclear reactor. Pay back has indeed started in
fine style. Then ‘Martyrial Girls’ certainly kept the fans that prefer their songs with rock
(queue screaming guitars) influences happy and saw Travie crowd surf in true rock star
style. ‘Peace Sign/Index Down’ was one for the hardcore GCH fans and the high energy level
was maintained with ‘Cupid’s Chokehold’, with the nearly 2,000 (mainly female) crowd
singing line for line
On a night with sub zero temperatures, the heat was fever pitch inside the venue so by now
Travie had to remove his waist length, black leather jacket. His 6ft 5 frame was now only
dressed in a black T-Shirt, jeans and trainers. After he treated the crowd to some pelvic
thrusting, in the guise of channelling his ‘Chi’, he asked the crowd if they happened to
stumble across a billion dollars, would they be selfish or selfless. The crowd sang the chorus
at the top of their lungs, with low accompaniment from the band at the beginning and end
of the performance of ‘Billionaire’. Clearly one of the highlights of the night and Travie got
his answer, they would be selfish. ‘Solo Discotheque’ kept the crowd in a frenzy, especially
with Travie doing a Michael Jackson (kick, crotch grab and point) dance move.
The band then stormed into the song ‘Fighter’ featuring Ryan Tedder on their latest
album ‘Paper cut Chronicles 2’. The song already sounds like yet another national hit, when
released. Then came the mammoth ‘Stereo Hearts’, which again had the crowd belting out
the lyrics and finally their latest single ‘Get your Ass Back Home’ featuring the UK’s Neon
Hitch, which is released on the 12 February. 3 million views already on You Tube indicates
that GCH will be soaring up the charts again with that one.
The band then left the stage but returned for an encore, with the crowd’s chants of their
name ringing in their ears. Travie then told the crowd that this date in London was the last
and the best date of their 2 week tour. He acknowledged the fact that the show last year
was cancelled because he was ill but this was one of the best days of his life. The fact that
they play instruments really lends itself to live performances and allows them to make
changes to the recorded versions of their songs. While the band provides a dynamic and
innovative musical back drop, the real star of the show is Travie who interacts expertly with
the crowd, keeping them fully engaged throughout.
‘On My Own’ was the encore, which I found to be a little of a letdown in comparison to
what had preceded it, as Travie (for all his talents) is not exactly gifted as a singer and this
obviously is not one of their most famous songs. This only took the shine off things a little
but still a very bright shine overall regardless and payback was complete.
